The Minister for Transportation, Rt Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, has pledged to complete all ongoing rail projects around the country and extend rail lines to all parts of the country.

Amaechi made the pledge during his first day in office as minister shortly after his inauguration by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said that he would resume work fully on Nov. 17 when the new Permanent Secretary, Mr Sabiu Zakari, would equally assume duty at the ministry.

The minister added that his meeting with the Permanent Secretary and the Directors on Nov. 17 would begin by looking at the budget and its level of implementation.

According to him, the meeting is necessary to chart a new course toward completing all ongoing projects, especially the rail and extending it to different part of the country.

Amaechi, however, called for cooperation from all parastatals and agencies of the ministry and the aviation sector.

He promised to ensure a smooth working relationship with the Minister of State for Aviation for the development of the sector as well as meeting the expectations of Nigerians.

The minister also urged the staff to always play by rule, adding that “I belief in principles of discharging my duties.”

“We are interested in completing all ongoing rail projects around the country because we don’t want to disappoint Nigerians. It is important that we realise that we have a mandate to deliver on our promises and there is competition among the ministers to deliver and we don’t want to take last,” he said.

Amaechi also emphasised on the issue of corruption, warning that anybody that would work with him must not approach him for money.

In his speech, the Minister of State for Aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika, said that it was an era of new thinking for the actualisation of the change agenda of the Federal Government.

Sirika added that the era of talking tough without acting was over, stressing that whatever was said was what would be done.

He assured that Buhari’s administration would deliver on its promises, adding that the government was aware of the high hope and expectation of Nigerians.

Sirika, however, pledged to ensure a harmonious working relationship with the Minister of Transportation to achieve results in the implementation of policies and programmes.

Also, the Permanent Secretary, who was also appointed by the president on Tuesday, expresses optimism that the new ministers would deliver on the visions and missions of the change agenda of the government.

Zakari pledged to give maximum cooperation to the new ministers to assist them in the discharge of their duties effectively.

•Photo shows Rotimi Amaechi.

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